Drag Of Wires

jnmeade

jnmeade

Cleared for Takeoff
Joined
Sep 25, 2005
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Location
Eastern Iowa
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Jim Meade
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Iowa City, IA
Where can one find how to calculate the amount of drag caused by wires at speeds up to 140 knots or so?

I'm thinking of the wires such as those on a biplane, the sense antenna on light planes and so forth.
 
jnmeade said:
Where can one find how to calculate the amount of drag caused by wires at speeds up to 140 knots or so?

I'm thinking of the wires such as those on a biplane, the sense antenna on light planes and so forth.
Click to expand...
I think Kitplanes ran an article that discussed this in part within the past few months. If if wasn't them, it was the EAA magazine. The shape of the wires made a difference (round vs streamlined). Sweeping the antennas also made a difference. IIRC, up to 1/2 the drag from the old planes was from their struts and wires.
 
On You Tube, search "Mit Shapiro drag" to see an old but interesting video. It doesn't give equations but I found it very interesting.
 
I don't know how to calculate it, but they sure make the Super Cub come down quick when you need to!
 
Ben, that's the Shapiro video. Thanks.
 
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